Once a Student,Now a Mentor: Preparing to Be a Cooperating Teacher

• Commit to education as well as to music as a career. Make sure that you understand your role as a teacher as well as your role as a musician before you student teach.

• Get as much experience in music teaching and administration as possible before your student-teaching experience. If your university doesn't provide formal opportunities for you in a variety of settings, actively seek opportunities for professional growth.These can include private voice lessons, private piano lessons, singing in a church or community choir, or directing a local adult or youth choir.

• Get involved during your early days of teaching rather than being an onlooker. It's important to observe in the early days of your student-teaching experience so that you know your cooperating teacher's style and expectations. But you should jump into the teaching mode quickly so that you have as many experiences as possible.

• Be aware that during your student teaching you have one foot in each of two worlds.You are neither a college student nor fully a teacher. This is the beginning of your transition to adulthood.You will need to reduce partying with your friends so that you can devote as much of your energy as possible to teaching.

• Ask your cooperating teacher or university supervisor if you're not sure about what you're supposed to do. If you don't understand, ask again. And again.

• Know that preparing and doing are two different things. You may think you've prepared a brilliant lesson plan, but the students stare at you with glazed eyes. Or, you finish the lesson in fifteen minutes and you have twenty minutes of class left. Always have a backup plan.

• Bowles, Chelcy , and Brian D. Runnels . "The Need for Collaboration in the Student Teaching Experience" Journal of Music Teacher Education 8, no. I (1998): 15-24.

• Conway, Colleen , and Tom Hodgman . Handbook for the Beginning Music Teacher. Chicago: GIA, 2006.

• Fay, Jim , and David Funk. Teaching with Love and Logic:Taking Control of the Classroom . Golden, CO: Love and Logic Press , 1995.

• Legette, Roy M. " Enhancing the Music Student-Teaching Experience:A Research Review." Update:Applications of Research in Music Education 16, no. I (1997): 25-28.

• Madsen, Clifford K. , and Keith A. Kaiser . "Pre-Internship Fears of Student Teaching." Update:Applications of Research in Music Education 17, no. 2 (1999): 27-32.

• Madsen, Clifford K. , Jayne M. Standley , James L. Byo , and Jane W. Cassidy . "Assessment of Effective Teaching by Instrumental Music Student Teachers and Experts." Update:Applications of Research in Music Education 10, no. 2 (1992): 20-24.

• Menc Teacher to Teacher:A Music Educator's Survival Guide. Reston,VA: MENC, 2004.

• Menc Spotlight on Transition to Teaching Music. Reston,VA: MENC , 2004.

• Morin, Francine. " Developing Collaborative Partnerships for Student Teaching in Music." Journal of Music Teacher Education 10, no. I (2000): 6-15.

• Pelletier, Carol Marra. A Handbook of Techniques and Strategies for Coaching Student Teachers , 2nd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

• Wong, Harry K. The First Days of School. How to Be an Effective Teacher. Mountain View, CA: Harry K.Wong Publications , 2004.